Complex verbs in the Present tense. Part 2

You have learned from the post “the complex verbs, part 1” that in Altaian we use the participle imperfective as part of the complex verb in the present. Accordingly, the main verb is participle imperfective with the affix –П (-ип, -уп, etc), as in the following examples: келип јат – (he) is coming, барып јат – (he) is going, айдып јат – (he) sais/is saying, иштеп туру – (he) works, ойноп туру – (he) plays, кычырып јат –(he) is reading, ӧзӱп јат – (it) is growing.
Here we gave the auxiliary verbs only for the third person. But you know that an auxiliary verb changes its ending for each person.

Let’s continue studying the rules to form the main verb

Don’t be afraid of so many rules. You need to master a spoken language, you don’t have to dissert upon Altai grammar. Just remember that in complex verbs the main verb ends in [-п], and don’t worry what vowel comes before, your tongue itself will utter it. Some affixes sound very similar.
Now read aloud: кӱйӱп јат – кӱйип јат(is burning), тудуп јат – тудып јат(holds). Do you distinguish them? Don’t you? Never mind! Be easy going about it.

In case the verb base ends in [Й] , the affix will be –ИП or –ЫП: ойып – making a hole, сойып – butchering/peeling, чӧйип – stretching/elongating, тойып – being full/glutting one’s appetite.
There is an exception for this rule: кӱйӱп – burning down/being on fire.

In case there are long vowels in the verb base you should add affixes –ИП or –ЫП (not –ӰП, -УП): оодып – breaking to pieces/crushing, соодып – cooling, куурып – roasting a grain, сӱӱнип – being glad.